Thurston County, WA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- Max hives (lots <10,000 sf)
- 4 hives, 1 swarm each
- Standard setback
- 25 feet from lot line
- Reduced setback
- 10 feet with flight barrier
- State registration
- Required under RCW 15.60.021
Summary
Backyard beekeeping is allowed outright on residential lots in unincorporated Thurston County if the hives are registered with the state and kept within set limits.
Beekeeping is allowed outright as an accessory use, when registered with the State Department of Agriculture according to provisions of RCW 15.60.021, provided that: i. Beekeeping may include honey bees, mason bees, cutter bees, cavity nesting bees or similar bees used for honey or pollination purposes. ii. A maximum of four hives, each with only one swarm, are allowed on lots of less than ten thousand square feet. iii. Hives shall not be located within twenty-five feet of any lot line, provided this distance may be reduced to ten feet if strategies are employed to require bees to gain elevation before crossing the property line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 77).
Full Breakdown
Thurston County treats beekeeping as a permitted accessory use to a single-family home under its urban agriculture rules: no conditional use permit needed. The keeper must register with the Washington State Department of Agriculture under RCW 15.60.021. On lots under 10,000 square feet, only four hives are allowed, each holding a single swarm. Hives must sit at least 25 feet from any lot line, though that setback drops to 10 feet if the keeper forces bees to gain elevation before crossing the property line, using an 8-foot grade change or a 6-foot solid fence or hedge running at least 20 feet past the hive in both directions.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the hive cap, skipping state registration, or placing hives closer than the required setback pulls the activity out of the allowed accessory-use category and exposes the keeper to county code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county permit to keep bees in Thurston County?
How close to my property line can I place a hive?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thurston County
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